The Weather War – Bigert & Bergström

Since the early 1990s, Mats Bigert and Lars Bergström have been interested in extreme weather phenomena and climate-related issues. The weather and human impact on the climate, not least the desire to influence it, are recurring themes of their oeuvre. Their work often exists at the intersection of man, nature and science. With a conceptual turn, they highlight the importance of artistic creativity as a means to explain complex relationships.

With this exhibition, Skissernas Museum draws attention to Bigert & Bergström’s boundary crossing work processes and their exploration of the artist’s role in society. The exhibition presents several installations that originate in what could be called geoengineering projects – attempts to artificially influence climate and weather. In these extensive art projects, Bigert & Bergström deal with the effects of global warming and study climate-related issues from a historical, scientific and social perspective. They leave the studio for research trips and art actions in an expanded public sphere: In the United States, they try to divert a tornado with a machine invented by a Russian scientist. In Italy and Spain, they study salt production and desalination in relation to increasing drought. In Sweden, they cover the southern peak of Kebnekaise to prevent the glacier from melting and the peak from losing its status as the country’s highest. 

Mats Bigert (b. 1965) and Lars Bergström (b. 1962) met at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm in the 1980s. Together they have made many public works of art, performative works and films. After 30 years of creative collaboration, their climate-related works are highly relevant today.

Opening remarks by Emily Boyd, director of Lund University Centre for Sustainability (LUCSUS).

Bigert & Bergström also at Dunkers!
On 4 May to 20 October 2018, the exhibition The Climate Experiment by Bigert & Bergström will be displayed at Dunkers Kulturhus in Helsingborg. Save your ticket from Dunkers and pay 50 SEK (reg. price 80 SEK/60 SEK) to Bigert & Bergström´s exhibition The Weather War at Skissernas Museum. The discount also applies in reverse – 50 SEK in entrance fee at Dunkers if you show the ticket from Skissernas Museum. The discount also applies if you have Kulturkortet, Skissernas Museums annual membership or a valid student id.